Trial date set for ETX commissioner and his son

A trial has been scheduled for a former East Texas county commissioner and his son, accused of holding a Texas Parks and Wildlife Game Warden hostage.

On October 6, 2012, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department Game Warden Shane Bailey was reportedly disarmed and detained by two men while the officer was making a routine check for hunting law violations on private property in Upshur County.

According to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, the game warden used his cell phone to call for help. The game warden was released when numerous law enforcement agencies converged on the property.

Lloyd Allen Crabtree, 51, was named in five felony indictments, including three counts of aggravated assault on a peace officer (first degree felony); one count of taking a weapon from a peace officer (third degree felony) and one count of unlawful restraint with a deadly weapon (third degree felony).

Crabtree's son, Todd A. Crabtree, 28, was indicted on three felony charges: One count of aggravated assault on a peace officer (first degree felony); one count of taking a weapon from a peace officer (third degree felony); and one count of unlawful restraint with a deadly weapon (third degree felony).

The incident last fall was investigated by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department Internal Affairs Unit and the Texas Rangers.

Jury selection has been scheduled for April 29. The trial is expected to start April 30. It has not been determined if the two cases will be tried simultaneously.